Box opener



Aug. 2, 1927.

J. H. RICHARDS BOX OPENER Filed J1me 29, 1926 (/ZMW/ A'ttorney Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. RICHARDS, OE YAKIMA, WASHINGTON.

BOX OPENER.

Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to box opening devices, and has more particular reference to a means for facilitating the removal of box lids wherein the lids are secured to the box by transverse cleats or strips at the opposite ends thereof, this type of box being usually employed in the shipment of apples.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a box opener wherein the lid may be quickly removed by two simple operations, and this without damaging the cleats or lids which is substantially impossible in the opening of this type of box with other tools.

The invention further aims to provide a device for facilitating the entire removal of a box lid attaching cleat or strip in one operation, and this without requiring any skill whatever upon the part of the person employing the present opener.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invent-ion is better understood, the same comprising-the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout both of the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a box opener constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown as actually in use, and

Figure 2 is a view taken substantially upon the line 22 of Figure 1 and looking down wardly in the direction of the arrows.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, my novel box opener constitutes the provision of a metallic plate 5 of suitable width and of a length substantially equiv alent to the width of a conventional apple box designated A in Figure 1. This plate is of concavoconvex formation in the direction of its width so as to permit the same to be rocked upon the lid B of the box when in use, said plate being equipped with a suitable form of rocking handle 6 that is bolted or otherwise-suitably secured at one end to. the inner face of the plate intermediate the ends thereof, and extending substantially vertically therefrom as clearly disclosed in Figure 1. i

The forwardedge of the plate 5 is preferably sharpened and formed upon the inner 7 face of the plate in slight spaced relation with the sharpened edge, are spaced vertical I claim as new,'and desire to 1926. Serial No. 119,352.

vision of a pivoted plate 9, the inner edge of which is formed with a pair of'extensions l010 of a length slightly lesser than the space between thelugs at opposite sides. of the center of the rocking plate 5, which extensions are formed at their longitudinal edges, with hinged knuckles 1111, through which the previously :mentioned pivot pins 8-8 extend.

The forward edge of the plate 9 is bent downwardly a slight distance as at 1-2, and thence inwardly for providing a cleat bit-- ing lip 13, the edge of which is toothed as indicated at 14 in Figure 2 for facilitating a biting grip upon the box lid securing cleat or strip C, at the forward edge thereof. When using the tool, the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1 whereby the forward sharpened edge of the curved plate 5 is disposed-adjacent the inner side of the cleat or strip C and the teeth 14. of the lip 13 engage the outer side edge of the cleat or strip.

Obviously, when the tool is arranged with respect to the box as disclosed in Figure 1, a rearward pull upon the handle 6 will cause the sharpened edge of the plate 5 to engage beneath the cleat or strip 0 and the box lid B, in order that as the plate is rocked upon the lid, said cleat or strip will be forced upwardly,-this upward movement being further assisted by reason of the pivotal plate 9, the lip of which has firm engagement with the front side of said cleat or strip, resulting box opener that is well adapted for all of v the purposes heretofore designed, and even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain. detail structural elements, it is nevertheless to be understood that somechanges may be made without affecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims. v

Having thus described the invention, what secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an opener for cleated' boxes, an elongated plate member of-substantially the same width asthe lid of the box to be removed,

i ing of the same upon the box lid, a handle said plate being curved transversely throughout its entire length, for facilitating the ICGli" diate portion of the conoaved face of said roekable plate, the outer longitudinal edge portion ofsaid pivoted plate being disposed beyond the forward edge of the roekahle plate and bent downwardly and thence inwardly to provide a cleat enga ing lip, the

free edge of said lip heing serrated and engaging the outer side edge of the cleat.

2. In an opener for eleated boxes, an elongated plate curved transversely throughout its entire length, the convex face thereof being adapted for roeliable movement on the lid of the box, a handle extending upwardly from the rear edge portion of said rockable plate for actuating the same, the forward edge of said plate being sharpened and adapted for engagement with the inner side edge of the eleat, ears Xtending upwardly from the ooneaved face of the roekable plate at spaced intervals and provided with regis tering openings, a flat plate, knuckles formed on the inner edge of said flat plate and adapted for disposition between the aforementioned lugs, a pivot pin extending through the lugs and the knuckles whereby the fat plate is pivotally secured to the reel;- able. plate, the forward edge portion of said flat pivoted plate extending beyond the forward sharpened edge of the roekahle plate,

the outer edge portion of said pivotedplate being disposed downwardly and thence in wardly to provide a lip, and teeth formed in the free edge of said lip adapted to bite into the outer side edge of the eleat.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

JOHN H. RICHARDS. 

